Sr. Manager Partnerships & Development

About this role

POSITION OVERVIEW  

The Sr Manager of Partnership Development   is responsible for   identifying , structuring, and advancing high-impact digital partnerships that support brand growth, improve guest experience, and expand Inspire Brands’ digital ecosystem.  

Reporting to the Head of Partnerships, this role is primarily focused on partnership development—from opportunity sourcing through business case development and deal execution—while working closely with   cross ‑ functional   partners to ensure partnerships are positioned for successful implementation and long-term value.  

This role   operates   at the intersection of commercial development, strategic analysis, and cross-functional collaboration, serving as a key driver of   Inspire’s   digital partnership pipeline across advertising, loyalty, payments, and fulfillment.  

*This position is required onsite 4 days pers week, typically Monday- Thursday.

RESPONSIBILITES

Partnership Development (Primary Focus)  

• Identify , source, and engage   potential strategic partners   aligned   to   digital, loyalty, media, payments, and guest experience priorities across Inspire brands.   

• Own the   front-end partnership development process , including opportunity discovery, partner outreach, and early-stage evaluation.  

• Develop   clear, data-driven business cases   for partnership opportunities, assessing strategic fit, financial upside, guest impact, operational feasibility, and risk.  

• Structure partnership proposals, including   value exchange models, commercial terms, success metrics, and high-level operating assumptions .  

• Prepare executive-ready materials and recommendations to support prioritization and decision-making.  

Cross-Functional Alignment & Deal Advancement  

• Partner closely with Product, Technology, Marketing, Loyalty, Finance, Legal, and Operations teams to   validate   feasibility and refine partnership models prior to launch.   

• Support negotiations by aligning internal stakeholders, clarifying requirements, and ensuring partnerships are structured for scalability and long-term value.  

• Collaborate with Finance to support financial modeling, forecasting, and investment trade-off discussions.  

• Ensure smooth handoff from   deal development to partnership implementation , working in close coordination with the Head of Partnerships and partnership management leads.  

Portfolio & Performance Support  

• Monitor early performance indicators for newly launched partnerships and support optimization recommendations.  

• Track market trends, competitive activity, and emerging partnership models to inform pipeline development and innovation opportunities.  

• Contribute to the evolution of   standardized partnership development tools, templates, and processes   to increase efficiency and decision quality.  

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS Minimum: 4yr degree in business, marketing, economics, or   a related   field; MBA or advanced degree preferred.

EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATIONS • 7+ years of experience in   partnership development, business development, strategy, or commercial roles , preferably within B2C, digital, or consumer brands.  

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS or ABILITIES   • Demonstrated experience building   financially grounded business cases   and advancing complex, cross-functional deals.  

• Strong understanding of digital ecosystems, including loyalty, media/advertising, payments, or platform partnerships (experience in restaurant, retail, or hospitality is a plus).  

• Highly analytical with the ability to translate data into compelling, executive-level narratives.  

• Proven ability to influence across a   matrixed organization   without direct authority.  

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with comfort presenting to senior leaders and external partners.  

• Self-starter who thrives in ambiguity and brings a proactive, ownership-oriented mindset.  

Travel: 0–25%  

  Inspire is a multi-brand restaurant company whose portfolio includes more than 33,300 Arby’s, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin’, Jimmy John’s, and SONIC restaurants worldwide. We’re made up of some of the world’s most iconic restaurant brands, but we’re much more than just a restaurant company. We’re a team of hundreds of thousands who individually and collectively are changing the way people eat, drink, and gather around the table. We know that food is much more than a staple—it’s an experience. At Inspire, that’s our purpose: to ignite and nourish flavorful experiences.

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